Driver dies in early morning wreck

A Goldsboro man was killed this morning when his car ran off N.C. 111 North, crashing into two gasoline pumps at the Stoney Creek Grocery.

Edward Poythress Jr., 50, was pronounced dead at the scene.

North Carolina Highway Patrol troopers responding to the scene said the accident occurred just before 6 a.m. at the intersection of Stoney Creek Church Road and N.C. 111.

According to the troopers' preliminary report, Poythress lost control of his white Ford Aspire and ran off the right side of the road.

"After that, he just overcorrected," Trooper Shane Smith said.

The car crashed into gas pumps in front of the store, causing fuel to spill on the ground around the scene.

First responders from Patetown Volunteer Fire Department covered the gasoline around the pumps with foam to prevent fire or an explosion.

Bakr Moazeb, owner of Stoney Creek Grocery, said he usually opens his store at 6 every morning. When he arrived for work today, however, the wreckage was still fresh and the smell of gasoline was in the air.

"Once they get all this cleaned up, we will open," he said.

One of the workers at the store said the flow to the gas line was cut off to prevent a dangerous situation, but added that there was no guarantee the lines would be safe until the gasoline company assessed the damage later today.